Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A conference bridge server for establishing a conference telephone call, the conference bridge server comprising an input and output port for a plurality of communication connections connecting conference terminals with the conference bridge server and a conference core for distributing input signals from conference terminals to at least some of the remaining conference terminals, wherein the conference bridge server comprises a platform for issuing a special address utilizable by a plurality of participants at a first location using a common conference phone to connect a plurality of laptop computers as additional conference terminals, and wherein said conference core is adapted to distribute, in said conference call, input signals from conference terminals connected via said special address to conference terminals assigned to other participants at one or more other locations, but redirect output signals for conference terminals connected via said special address to said common conference phone.
A conference bridge server establishes conference calls by connecting multiple conference terminals. It uses input/output ports to manage connections and a core component to distribute audio input from each participant's terminal to other participants. The server supports a scenario where multiple people at one location use a single conference phone but each have their own laptop. It issues a special address that allows these laptops to join as individual conference terminals. Audio from the laptops is distributed to participants at other locations, but audio output for the laptops is redirected to the common conference phone, ensuring all participants at that location hear through the shared phone.
2. The conference bridge server of claim 1 , wherein the conference bridge server is operative to issue a common special address to all participants at a specific location.
The conference bridge server described previously issues the SAME special address to ALL participants who are located at the SAME physical location and sharing a single conference phone. This simplifies the connection process for users in that specific room, as they all use the same identifier to link their individual laptops to the conference call via the common phone.
3. The conference bridge server of claim 1 , wherein the conference bridge server comprises is operative to provide the participants at the first location using the common conference phone with a common special address associated with the conference bridge server and the other participants at one or more other locations with one or more other special addresses associated with the conference bridge server for separate processing of the respective input and output signals.
The conference bridge server described previously provides a COMMON special address to participants at a FIRST location who are sharing a common conference phone. It also provides ONE OR MORE OTHER special addresses to other participants at OTHER locations. This setup enables the server to process input and output signals from different locations separately, allowing for customized audio management or control based on location. This helps in managing audio quality and preventing feedback issues between different conference rooms.
4. The conference bridge server of claim 1 , wherein the communication traffic between the conference bridge server and the conference terminals assigned to the participants is conducted using the session initiation protocol and the real-time transport protocol/real-time transport control protocol.
In the conference bridge server described previously, the communication between the server and the conference terminals assigned to the participants is conducted using the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) for call setup and management, and the Real-time Transport Protocol/Real-time Transport Control Protocol (RTP/RTCP) for transmitting and controlling the audio and video streams. This ensures reliable and standardized communication for the conference call.
5. The conference bridge server of claim 1 , wherein the conference bridge server is operative to detect a speaking participant at the first location and to utilize this information for controlling the conference call.
The conference bridge server described previously can detect which participant at the first location (using the common conference phone and laptops) is currently speaking. It uses this information to control the conference call, possibly by muting other participants at that location or highlighting the speaker's audio.
6. The conference bridge server of claim 1 , wherein the conference bridge server is adapted to apply different echo cancellation parameters to said input signals received from said laptop computers dependent on a position of the one or more laptop computers relative to the common conference phone and/or dependent on a position of the participants at the first location relative to the one or more laptop computers.
The conference bridge server described previously adjusts echo cancellation parameters applied to audio input received from the laptop computers. These adjustments depend on the relative positions of the laptops and/or participants at the first location (using the common conference phone) to minimize echoes and feedback. This ensures better audio quality by compensating for acoustic variations based on the physical layout of the conference room.
7. The conference bridge server of claim 1 , wherein the conference bridge server is operative to receive identification information of the participants at the first location and to indicate a name or another identification information of the current speaker to the other participants of the conference call.
The conference bridge server described previously can receive identification information (e.g., name) for each participant at the first location. It displays the name or other identifying information of the CURRENT speaker to other participants of the conference call. This feature helps participants at other locations identify who is speaking within the conference.
8. A method of providing a conference telephone call, the method comprising: establishing a plurality of communication connections connecting conference terminals with a conference bridge server; distributing input signals from conference terminals to at least some of the remaining conference terminals; utilizing a special address to connect a plurality of laptop computers as additional conference terminals, the plurality of laptop computers being assigned to a plurality of participants at a first location using a single common conference phone; distributing, in said conference call, input signals from conference terminals connected via said special address to conference terminals assigned to other participants at one or more other locations; and redirecting output signals destined for conference terminals connected via said special address to said common conference phone.
A method for conducting a conference call involves establishing connections between conference terminals and a conference bridge server, then distributing audio input from each terminal to other terminals. A special address is used to connect laptop computers used by multiple participants at one location who are sharing a common conference phone. Audio input from these laptops is sent to other conference terminals at different locations. Audio output meant for the laptops is redirected to the common conference phone.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising: using a relay function implemented in a laptop computer of one of the participants using the common conference phone to connect one or more laptop computers of one or more other participants at the first location using the common conference phone to the conference call through said laptop computer serving as a relay; and routing stream traffic from the one or more relayed laptop computers through said relay laptop computer to the conference bridge server and routing signalling for control of the conference call directly to the conference bridge server under avoidance of the relay laptop computer.
The method for conducting a conference call described previously further includes using a relay function implemented in one participant's laptop at the first location (sharing the common conference phone). This relay laptop connects other laptops of other participants at the same location to the conference call. Audio stream traffic from these "relayed" laptops goes through the relay laptop to the conference bridge server, while call control signaling goes directly to the conference bridge server, bypassing the relay laptop.
10. A computer program product for establishing a conference telephone call with a plurality of communication connections connecting conference terminals with a conference bridge server and distributing input signals from conference terminals to at least some of the remaining conference terminals, wherein the computer program product comprises a non-transitory computer readable media with computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of: issuing a special address to be utilized, by a plurality of participants at a first location using a common conference phone, to connect a plurality of laptop computers as additional conference terminals; distributing, in said conference call, input signals from conference terminals connected via said special address to conference terminals assigned to other participants at one or more other locations; and redirecting output signals destined for conference terminals connected via said special address to said common conference phone.
A computer program product for establishing a conference call, stored on a non-transitory medium, includes instructions to: issue a special address so multiple participants at one location (using a common conference phone) can connect their individual laptops as separate conference terminals; distribute audio input from these laptops to other conference terminals at other locations; and redirect audio output destined for these laptops to the common conference phone.
Unknown
October 10, 2017
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.